Airdrieonians F.C.

Airdrieonians
Full nameAirdrieonians Football Club
Nickname(s)The Diamonds
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002) (as Airdrie United FC)
GroundExcelsior Stadium, Airdrie
Capacity10,101[1]
ChairmanPaul Hetherington
ManagerRhys McCabe
LeagueScottish Championship
2023–24Scottish Championship, 4th of 10
Websitehttp://www.airdriefc.com

Airdrieonians Football Club is a Scottish professional football team in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, who are members of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and play in the Scottish Championship. They were formed in 2002 as Airdrie United Football Club following the liquidation of the original Airdrieonians club, formed in 1878. The club's official name was changed in 2013 with the approval of the Scottish Football Association to the traditional name of Airdrieonians. As with the previous club, this is often colloquially shortened to simply "Airdrie".

The club have won three trophies in their short history – the Scottish Second Division in 2003–04 and the Challenge Cup in 2008–09 and 2023–24. Once described as "the luckiest team in the Scottish League",[2] the club have benefited in league division placements due to other club's misfortunes on three occasions (2008, 2009 and 2012). However the club have lost six Scottish league play-off finals (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2021 and 2022), two semi-finals (2010 and 2017) and one quarter-final (2024) in total, eventually offset by a Championship play-off final victory in 2023 against Hamilton Academical.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference capacity was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Kenny, Stuart (16 July 2012). "How Airdrie United became the luckiest team in the Scottish League". STV. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2012.